Winthrop Public Safety

Chief Terence Delehanty and the Winthrop Police Department report that the Department has received several recent reports of checks being taken out of the mail, altered, and then used fraudulently.

Six of these reports were received by the Winthrop Police Department recently. All of the victims who have contacted Winthrop Police report that they mailed envelopes containing checks from either the blue Postal Service mailbox in front of the Post Office at Michael’s Mall, or the blue Postal Service mailbox at Hermon and Centre streets.

In each instance, victims were notified by their banks of potentially fraudulent activity and received copies of altered checks that they did not make out themselves.

Altering stolen checks to fraudulently cash them is known as “check washing,” and is a common scheme in which various chemical washes are used to remove ink from checks, creating a blank check that suspects can then fill in however they want.

“Check washing is a common scheme in which suspects take legitimate checks out of the mail, alter them, and then attempt to cash them fraudulently,” said Chief Delehanty. “I encourage residents who are mailing checks to take their checks directly into the Post Office as we continue to investigate these crimes.”

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service reports that more than $1 billion in counterfeit checks and money orders are recovered each year, and offers the following tips for preventing check theft and check washing:

• Use black, gel pens when filling out checks. Black, gel ink can be more difficult to wash off of a check
• Do not mail checks via your residential mailbox, or any other insecure mailbox. It is recommended that any checks be mailed only in blue, Postal Service mailboxes, or that they are delivered in hand inside the Post Office.
• Shred or burn canceled checks. Do not throw checks in the trash.
• Check your bank statements often. Some banks will only reimburse funds lost to fraud if the fraud is reported to the bank within 30 days.
• Don’t risk sending cash in the mail.

Anyone who believes they may have had mail stolen or checks fraudulently cashed is encouraged to contact the Winthrop Police Department by calling 617-846-1212.

For more information on checking washing and other scams from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, click here.

Chief Terence M. Delehanty reports that the Winthrop Police Department arrested and charged two men with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine as a result of a motor vehicle stop.

SAMUEL CHAVARRIA ARTEAGA, AGE 19, OF REVERE, was arrested and charged with:

• Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute
• Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle
• Fugitive from Justice on Court Warrant

MATEO MIRA CHALARCA, AGE 26, OF WINTHROP, was arrested and charged with:

• Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute
• Giving a False Name to Law Enforcement

On Tuesday, Oct. 10, at approximately 1 p.m., Winthrop Police detectives were on patrol in an unmarked vehicle when they noticed a Ford Escape that was involved in an alleged drug transaction a week earlier and was not registered to a licensed owner.

While observing the Ford Escape, detectives witnessed what they believed was a possible drug transaction in progress, and stopped the vehicle on Veterans Road.

The driver of the Escape, later identified as ARTEAGA, was not licensed to drive, and was taken into custody at the scene. A subsequent search of the vehicle and a cross-body bag that ARTEAGA had on his person, officers located approximately 15 grams of a pink, powdery substance identified by field tests as methamphetamine. Detectives also located a scale with pink residue on it, a blender, and other drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.

Both ARTEAGA and CHARLARCA, who was a passenger in the vehicle, were arrested and charged at the scene.

ARTEAGA and CHARLARCA were both arraigned Wednesday in Boston Municipal Court, East Boston Division. ARTEAGA was ordered held without bail on the fugitive from justice charge, and CHARLARCA was ordered held on $2,500 cash bail, with conditions that he surrender his passport and report to probation if he posts bail.

“I want to highlight the good work of our detectives on this case, but I also want to highlight that this is the second time in a week that we have found defendants in possession of methamphetamine on the streets of Winthrop,” said Chief Delehanty. “Methamphetamine has caused major issues across much of America, and I hope we can prevent it from continuing to enter our community.”

These are allegations. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

WINTHROP — Chief Terence M. Delehanty is pleased to announce that residents can now sign up for the Winthrop Police Department’s Civilian Police Academy this fall.

This free program is open to Winthrop residents age 18 and up. Classes will be held on Thursdays from Nov. 2 through Jan. 18, from 6:30-9 p.m. in the Lyceum Room at the E.B. Newton School Cultural Center, 45 Pauline St. Classes will not be held the week of Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Members of the Winthrop Police Department will lead classes in their fields of expertise during the 10 weeks. Topics will include domestic violence, police exploring, motor vehicle law, patrol procedures, accidents, firearms, critical incidents, implicit bias, gangs, juveniles, as well as narcotics enforcement, prevention and treatment. Participants will also have the opportunity to attend a ride-along with a Winthrop Police officer.

“We encourage all that are eligible to sign up for this great learning opportunity,” Chief Delehanty said. “Participants will have the chance to receive first-hand experience from our department members on a number of public safety topics to gain a wide education on police matters and criminal justice.”

Residents are asked to drop off or mail a completed application to the Winthrop Police Department, 3 Metcalf Square. Mailed applications should be addressed to the care of Lt. Stephen Rogers. For those who prefer to complete the application virtually, please click here.

The Winthrop Police Department will conduct a background check on applicants to determine their acceptance into the academy.

Residents will be notified by email if they have been accepted into the class. The class is limited to 20 participants.

For more information, please contact Lt. Rogers by emailing srogers@town.winthrop.ma.us or calling 617-846-1212 ext. 2940.

###

Chief Terence Delehanty and the Winthrop Police Department would like to urge community members to secure their vehicles following an uptick in reports of stolen vehicles and vehicle break-ins, all of which occurred in unsecured vehicles.

On March 19 and April 11, 12 and 19, the Winthrop Police Department took multiple reports of car breaks-ins and reports of four vehicles being stolen from the areas of Prescott Street, Ingleside Avenue, Douglas Street and Waldemar Avenue.

Of note is that none of the vehicles that were broken into or stolen were entered by force. In every instance, the doors of the vehicles were unlocked, and all four of the stolen vehicles had keys or key fobs still in the vehicle.

“We are investigating all of the incidents, have developed suspects in every case, and intend to file appropriate charges, but we also want to warn the community to please secure their vehicles,” said Chief Delehanty. “Motor vehicle theft and motor vehicle break-ins are often crimes of opportunity: Suspects will break into or steal any unsecured vehicle while passing right by locked vehicles. Basic security precautions can make a world of difference and can help prevent crime.”

Protect Your Vehicle

Winthrop Police urge residents to always lock and secure their vehicles. Additional safety tips, courtesy the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, include the following:

• Take your keys, don’t leave them in your vehicle.
• Close and lock all windows and doors.
• Park in well-lit areas, preferably a garage, if possible.
• Never leave valuables in your vehicle, and if you do, make sure they are out of sight.

For more tips on vehicle safety courtesy the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, click here.